Water supply system



April 30, 1968 F. A. LOEBEL 3,380,895

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM Filed Aug. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 30, 1968 F. A, LOEBEL 3,380,895

WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM Filed Aug. 1S, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,380,895 WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM Frederick A. Loebel, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Aqua-Chem, Inc., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Aug. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 390,356 Claims. (Cl. 202-176) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for producing hot water and distilled water including a hot water tank with a condensing coil and collection trough in the vapor space, a top outlet for delivering hot water for domestic use, and a distillate outlet from the trough. The coil and trough can be contained in a separate tank or can be supported by a plug closing a port in the tank wall through which the coil and trough extend. A pump can pump hot water upward into the vapor space and an impeller can circulate air from the vapor space to the coil and return.

The disclosure This invention relates to the supply of water, especially for houshold uses and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to the supply of both distilled water and hot undistilled water in a water supply system. It is the general object of this invention to provide Va new and useful system for supplying distilled water.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device which can be installed in a hot water heater to supply distilled water in quantities suicient for houshold use.

A further object of this invention is to modify a hot water heater to supply distilled water in addition to undistilled hot water.

Still another object is to provide a new and useful device which may be added to a hot water heater for use in combination therewith for production of a supply of distilled water.

Another object is to provide new and useful improvements in liow systems in the production of distilled or purified water in accordance with any of the foregoing objects.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a vertical section through a water heater showing a form of water distillation device usable in accordance herewith;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through another water heater showing another form of water distillation device usable in accordance herewith; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary showing, partly in section, of a system including a water heater and still another form of device associated with the water heater in accordance herewith.

While -this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several embodiments of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplilication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Turning first to the form of device illustrated in FIG- URE l,.there is provided a system which may be installed in a conventional hot water heater for connecting the heater to produce distilled Water during the otherwise normal operation of the hot water heater. The device is illustrated as installed in the upper portion of a hot water heater. lt will be evident that the system of FIG- URE 1 can readily be installed in existing water heaters 3,380,895 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 to enable production of distilled water from the water heater.

Accordingly, the device includes a fitting 11 which carries a trough 12. The bottom of trough 12, as illustrated in FIGURE l, is sloped to the right toward an outlet port 13 for draining any liquid collecting within trough 12. Connected to outlet port 13 and in communication therewith is drainage or discharge line 14 for draining or discharging liquid from trough 12. Line 14 is controlled by suitable hand valve 15 so that liquid within trough 12 may be selectively withdrawn. Mounted through tting 11 and carried thereby is a condensing coil 16 which extends above trough 12 so that trough 12 is in position to collect any condensate forming on the outer surface of coil 16 and dripping therefrom.

In order to install the device, ra female threaded nut 1S is provided which may be positioned as shown impaling wall or tank 20 and welded, or otherwise secured in place. Fitting 11 includes male threads 21 on an outer cylindrical surface thereof for association with the female threads of nut 19. A hexagonal surface 22 is provided on iitting 11 for engagement of the fitting with a Wrench. For installation, nut 19 is secured by welding at the bore in tank 20 and fitting 11 is then inserted, trough end first, through nut 19 and the bore in tank 2d. Fitting 11, upon engagement of threads 21 with the female threads of nut 19, is threaded into nut 19 and tightened with a wrench applied to surface 22. Trough 12 should be beneath coil 16 and the rotational disposition of fitting 11 may be adjusted for such purposes. Suitable union compound, sealant or the like may be provided on threads 21, as desired.

Each end of condensing coil 16 terminates in a length of tubing 23 or 2d. Tubing 23 and 24 is llexible, e.g. copper or the like, and is connected by suitable unions respectively to a cold Water branch pipe 25 and a supply line 26 for tank 20. Branch pipe 25 is a branch from the cold Water main.

A body of water 29 is maintained within tank 20, supplied from cold water pipe 25, through coil 16 and line 26. A conventional water heater cold water line control valve 30 is provided in line 26 to control the level of water in tank 2t), e.g. responsive to water level detected by water level detection system 23. Suitable conventional overilow (not shown) from tank 2G may be provided, as desired.

Fitting 11 and trough 12 can be formed, for example, of a 2" or 21/2" pipe length closed at both ends and having one Wall at least partially removed for exposure of coil 16 to the space within tank 2li above the body of water 29. The portion of the pipe wall removed would correspond to the upper portion as viewed in FIGURE l, so that the remaining pipe forms trough 12. Outlet port 13 can be bored in the pipe portion with discharge line 14 connected thereto by a suitable tap or the like.

Considering tank 2t) more particularly, tank 2li comprises a water heating chamber. Above bottom wall 31 of tank 2li is an electric resistance heating element 33 mounted through the `wall of tank 2li by a watertight, electrically insulating gland 32. Heating element 33 is submerged in the body of water 29 for heating the body of Water 29 to increase the vapon'zation of water from body 29. The vapor rises to a vapor chamber 35 above body 29. Any suitable source of electric energy is used, illustrated as a 220 v. AC line.

A hot water discharge pipe is provided in the form of a dip tube as the origin of the hot water main 34. The hot water discharge pipe opens sutliciently below the top of tank 2d to trap air in the top of tank 2l), thereby providing an air space or vapor chamber 35 in which to insert the condenser system. The space is retained during opera- 3 tion of the heater partly by release of air and other gases from the water during heating.

In operation, heater element 33 heats the body of water 29 and vapors rise within Vapor chamber 35 and, upon contact with the coil 16, condense. The condensate collects in trough 12 for discharge via line 14 upon opening valve 15. A charcoal iilter 36 may be provided in line 14 to filter traces of absorbable materials which may carry over into the condensate.

The system illustrated in FIGURE 2 is of a form which would include the condensing and condensate recovery portion as an integral part of a hot water heater, such as may be constructed and marketed by a manufacturer, compared with the fitting type condenser and condensate recovery system described with reference to FIGURE l.

The hot water heater of FIGURE 2 is indicated generally by reference numeral 4@ and includes an outer casing of two parts, an upper cap anda lower bottom joined at a tianged junction and spaced by a gasket 41 having a large central opening. The bottom of the heater is defined by a watertight bottom wall 42 spanning the heater bottom and capable of supporting a body of water within a tank portion of the heater in the form of tank 44.

Above wall 42 `within the bottom portion of the tank 44 an electric resistance heating coil 33, as described with reference to FIGURE l, is mounted through the tank wall by watertight electrically insulating gland 43. Tank 44 is delined generally between bottom wall 42 and gasket 41 and normally contains a body of water. Above gasket 41 is a condensing chamber 45 for condensing and recovering purified water from water vapor rising from the body of water in tank 44. Tank 44 is also provided with a dip tube or hot water discharge pipe which is the origin of hot water main 34. Y

A motor 47 is mounted on the top wall of heater 49.

and a drive shaft 48 depends from motor 47 through the top casing wall. Shaft 48 is connected to and drives a hollow cylinder or shaft 50, which is rotatably supported. An atomizer 49, having radial impeller blades, is mounted on the shaft 50, the atomizer serving the dual purpose to Yatomize water conducted thereto by means hereinafter to be described, and also to agitate the air to increase its evaporative effect. The lower portion of the shaft 50 is provided with an inlet communicating with water in the tank 44 to permit flow of water into the interior of the hollow shaft 50. A plurality of openings or ports 51 are provided in the shaft t) near the location of the atomizer 32, and water issuing from the ports 51 is drawn by and impinges on the blades of the atomizer 49. Inasmuch as rotation of the shaft 50 causes the same to act in the nature of a pump drawing water `from the tank 44 for emergence from the ports 51, the pumping action thereof has been by arrows designated by reference character 52.

Surrounding shaft 50 at the level of ports 51 is an annular space 55 which receives a spray of water from ports 51 as shaft 50 rotates. Annular space 55 has an annular opening 56 thereabove for communication of space 55 with atomizer 49. As atomizer 49 rotates with shaft 50, the atomizer draws air from space 55V through opening 56, and as the air travels through annular space 55 it is moistened or substantially saturated by the vapors from the hot water being ejected through ports 51. Atomizer 49 forces the resulting moist air through a demister 57 which separates water droplets from the air and the air is thereafter directed radially outward into a condensing Zone 58. The water droplets separated by dcmister 57 are returned to annular space 55 and/or tank 44 by gravity.

The moist air, leaving demister 57, travels downwardly through the condensing zone 5S and is contacted with a condensing coil 59 disposed Within zone 58. Condensing coil 59 is supplied with col-d water from cold water branch pipe through valve 60 and the water circulates through coil 59 and is discharged therefrom through outlet pipe 61 to tank 44. Thus, the condensing coil is cooled by cold f 4 water in the inlet line to tank 44. Valve 60 may be controlled in the same manner as valve 30 in FIGURE 1 to supply water needs to tank 44 as in normal water heater operation.

Within condensing zone 58, in the bottom thereof, there is provided a condensate collection trough 62 which collects condensate formed on coil 59 in zone 58. The condensate is withdrawn through line 14 and iilter 36 to condensate storage tank 67. Storage tank 67 provides a supply of purified or distilled water which may be tapped as needed or desired through valve 15.

After circulation in contact with coil 59, the air in condensing zone 58 leaves zone 58 adjacent the bottom thereof through a plurality, or circular array, of slots 63 in casing 64, and the air, as shown by the arrows 65 for direction of iiow, is recycled back to space 55 for contact with additionalwater spray from ports 51. Thus, a cyclic stream of air is provided. The cyclic stream is moisteneo with a hot water spray to increase its vapor content even to saturation and the stream is then directed to a cooling area where the moisture is partially removed by contact with condensing surfaces, the condensate being recovered as distilled water product and the air stream continuing to cycle alternatively through the ymoistening and condensing zones.

Casing 64 is a sheet metal casing which delines annular space 55 and zone 58 and which supports the demister 57. Casing 64 is mounted to the top wall of hot water heater 4t) by means of a flange and bolts indicated generally at 66. The slots 63 in casing 64, in addition to forming a part of the cyclic stream flow path, permit overflow of condensate from trough 62 and define the upper lip of trough 62 so that, should tank 67 become filled with condensate, the excess in trough 62 will overliow through openin gs 63 and return to tank 44.

Turning now to FIGURE 3, the system illustrated includes a hot water heater Sil and a separate, but connected, vapor condensing and recovery system 81. The hot water heater includes a heating or burner chamber 82 separated from the water tank portion 84 by a partition wall 83. A central exhaust stack 85 rises from partition wall 83 centrally through tank 84 providing additional heat exchange of rising fumes with water within tank 84. A cold water inlet conduit 86 is provided for supplying cold water tothe tank. Tan-k 84 is provided with outer insulation 87 held between tank 84 and an outer shell 88.

Burner chamber `82 contains a burner 89 suitably mounted therein and supplied with gas by gas supply line 90 which is controlled by a temperature responsive valve 91 to supply gas to the burner 89 when the temperature of water within tank 84 drops below a preselected level. The usual burner pilot (not shown) is also provided.

The vapor condensing and recovery system 81 includes and inlet in the form of a dip tube 92 which serves as the outlet from tank 84. A body of hot water, as shown at 93, is maintained within a lower water chamber of the condensing and recovery system 81. The hot water main 94 originates in the body of water 93 as a dip tube. A vapor riser 95 separates the lower chamber containing the body of hot water 93 from a condensing chamber 96 thereabove. Vapors are permitted to rise through vapor riser 95 into condensing chamber 96. A condensing coil 97 is supported within condensing chamber 96 and is connected with the cold water inlet conduit 86 so that cold water liowing into tank 84 iirst passes through coil 97 in heat exchange with vapors in chamber 96. Vapor riser 95 delines a distillate connection trough 98 disposed beneath coil 97 for collecting condensate forming on coil 97. A condensate or distillate take-olf line 99 is provided for conducting distillate from trough 98 to a distillate storage tank 102. Line 99 is controllable by valve 100. Tank 162 has a valved discharge line 193 for removing distillate from tank 102 aS needed.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for producing distilled water and hot undistilled water comprising a water tank, a condensing chamber, heating means for -heating water in said tank to a temperature below the boiling point thereof, outlet means for supplying heated water from said tank to a hot water system, cooling means in said condensing chamber, a drivable shaft rotatably mounted in said condensing chamber, flow path means for providing an intimate contact between air and water vapor from said tank, means mounted on said shaft for circulating air through said flow path means to said condensing chamber, pump means for supplying water from said tank to said flow path means to provide increased water vapor in said flow path means, said pump means being mounted on and driven by said drivable shaft, motor means for driving said drivable shaft whereby air is circulated by said circulating means to carry water vapor from said flow path means into said condensing chamber and. into intimate contact with the cooling means therein to condense water from said air, and means for withdrawing from the condensing chamber water condensed therein.

2. Apparatus for producing distilled water and hot undistilled water comprising a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, heating means for heating water in said heating chamber to a temperature below the boiling point thereof, outlet means for supplying heated water from said water heating chamber to a hot water system, means providing an air ow path for directing air from the heating chamber to the cooling chamber and return, means for forcing air along said flow path, means for introducing water vapor into the air in said heating chamber, air circulated by said air forcing means serving to carry water vapor into the cooling chamber wherein a portion of said water is condensed, means for withdrawing condensed water from said cooling chamber and means redirecting the air into the heating chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including means in said air flow path between said heating chamber and cooling chamber for separating water droplets from the stream of air and water vapor.

4. Apparatus for providing distilled and undistilled hot water comprising a tank, means for maintaining the tank partially filled with a body of water to provide a vapor space -above the level thereof, means for heating the water in the tank, partition means defining a condenser zone in said vapor space and having an inlet, a condensing coil in the condenser zone, distillate collecting means positioned below the coil, means for introducing cold water into said coil, pump means for delivering hot water from the body of water upward into said vapor space for forming water vapor for passage through said inlet and to said coil, means for withdrawing distillate from said distillate collecting means, and means for supplying heated water from said tank to a hot water system.

5. Apparatus for providing distilled and undistilled hot water comprising a hot w-ater tank for containing a body of hot water, a vaporizing tank, means for delivering hot water from said hot water tank to said Vaporizing tank, means for maintaining the vaporizing trank partially filled with water to provide a vapor space above the level thereof, means for heating the water in the hot water tank, a condensing coil in the vapor space, distillate collecting means positioned below the coil in said vaporizin-g tank, means for introducing cold water into said coil, and means for withdrawing distillate from said distillate collecting means, said vaporizing tank being mounted with said vapor space above the top of said hot water tank, said delivering means comprising an outlet conduit extending from said hot water tank upwardly to said vaporizing tank and including an outlet from said vaporizing tank for delivering hot water therefrom to a hot water supply system.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 797,843 8/ 1905 Daley 202-166 2,475,482 7/ 1949 Clemens 207:-180 3,055,810 9/1962 Skow 203-2 3,190,817 6/1965 Nengbaver 202-236 3,248,305 4/ 1966 Williamson 202--180 2,368,665 2/ 1945 Kohman et al 203-49 X 3,279,533 10/ 1966 Kersteter et al 202-197 NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner.

J. SOFER, Assistant Examiner, 

